Glass-furnace.



H. L. 11mm.

GLASS PURNAGE.

APILIOATION FILED PBBJT 1911.

Patented Sept. 5, 1911.

3 SHEBTSSEEET 1.

I Q fiiNVENTOR A -w EFHTHESQEQ l 1 I I E H. L. DIXON.

GLASS FURNACE.

APPLICATION FILED PEB.17, 19'11.

Patented Sept. 5, 1911.

3 SHEETSSHBBT INVENTOR H 16. m,

flu

H. L. DIXON.

GLASS FURNACE.

APPLICATION FILED 33.17, 1911.

Patented Sept. 5, 191

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

WITNESSES series oru HENRY L. DIXON, (3F KNOXVILLE, PENNSYLVANIA.

,- GLASS-FURNACE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

l atented Sept. 5, limit.

Original application filed March 1, 1910, Serial No. 5 16586., Divided and this application. filed February To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, HENRY L. DIXON, of Knoxville, Allegheny county, Pennsylvania, have invented anew and useful Improvement in GlassFurnaces, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, in which- Figure 1 is a partial longitudinal vertical section showing one form of my improved furnace; Fig. 2 isa horizontal section on the line 11-41 of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a partial horizontal section on the line HL-Hll of Fig. 1.; and Fig. 4: isa cross section of the discharge end of the tank furnace on the line lV-IV of Fig. 1.

The present application'is a division of my pending application Serial No. 5445,5536, filed March 1, 1910.

My invention isdesigned to provide an improved type of glass furnace, by which glass may be fed out of a tank or source of supply to a supplementaltank or reservoir in which the glass is put in circulation, without any rotation of this reservoir or mov able tank. I

' It is also designed to provide an improved method of and means for bringing fresh gathering surfaces into position. by circulat ing a body of glass within a receptacle or hearth. i

The invention is also designed to provide an improved means for feeding, controlling and stopping the flow of glass from the tank furnace. 1

It also consistsin the construction and arrangement of the parts, as hereinafter more fully described and claimed.

In the drawings, 2 represents a tank furnace, which may be of any desirable type, and at one end of which is a forehearth extension 3, the bottom 4c ofwhich is consider-- ably above the level of the tank bottom. The bottom of this forehearth extension is provided with a longitudinal channel 5,through which the flow of the glass is controlled by a stopper or dam 6, of refractory material, which lit-s neatly in the channel. This stopper or valve is preferably formed integral with a sleeve 7 of refractory material, which is above the level of the glass in the tank and channel, and extends through holes in the refractory side walls of the forehearth. This refractory sleeveie fastened to carrying the roller supports.

Serial No. 609,254.

ing with a toothed Wheel 11, carried in a do pending bearing 12, and actuated by handle 13. llhrough the center of the refractory sleeve and the bearings extends a stationary water pipe 14. Water is circulated through this pipe to cool the refractory sleeve. The

Water pipe is preferably a neatlit within the sleeve, so that the sleeve may rotate around it; though the pipe may be secured to the sleeve, in which case it should connect with stationary pipes by stuffing boxes.

In order to provide for removal of the shaft through the side wall, 1 preferably build one side wall with an opening 15, shown in Figs. 1. and 1. which is closed by filling in with removable brick work or blocks 16, as shown in Fig. 4. If the valve or dam portion is turned into an upwardly projecting position, and the trunnion por tions detached, the sleeve may be drawn out through this opening.

From the end of the channel 5, a refractory spout 17 extends into a small supplen'iental furnacelB, which may be of any desirable form, and which covers the major portion of the gathering tank 19. The furnace may be heated by burners 20, project ing into one side thereof and discharging from flue 21, into stack 22, or in any other desirable way. I

The tank 1.9 is mounted on a framed platform or skeleton 23, which is carried upon a gyratory shaft 2 1, having step bearing upon a ball 25. To the outer portion of the skeleton or platform 23' is secured a downwardly projecting annular rail 26, which contacts with a series of rollers 27, mounted on adjustable arms '28, projecting upvvardly from a rotary frame or disk 29. The rotary frame 39 has a central'hollow sleeve 30, resting upon ball bearingsfll, around the oscillatory shaft 24: and to the hollow shaft 36, re secured a worm wheel 32, which preferably rests on ball bearings 38. This worm wheel engages a worm 34, on shafts which may be driven in any suitable manner, as by a silent chain drive 36. This drive may'con nect with electric motor 37, from which. the motion is geared down to give the proper speed of rotation to the spider or frame inclose the driving. gearing within a receptacle 38, which may contain oil so that the working parts may rotate in an oil bath. 1"

fandwill tip it successively in different directions, the highest side following around control.

j 'time'it is in gathering heartlnl Each arm, there ore, will gather a to different points of. the circumference. This isaof great advantage, in that it sets up a circulation in the glass contained in the tank, without actual rotary movement of the tank itself. Fresh portions of glass are thus carried to the outer portion of the tank, which projects beyond the end wall of the supplemental furnace, and from which portio'n the glass is gathered and taken to the glass-forming machine.

' In using the apparatus, the refractory valve or stopper is turned to allow a flow of glass through the channel and the spout into the gathering tank. After the tank has received the proper amount, the valve may beset to allow a slow flow thereintoflor may be turned to shut off the glass at hi tervals, the fiow being thus under con'iplete The glass back of the gate or stopper will be kept hot by the heatlfrom the tank, and the refractory material of,- the gate will be heated by the glass itself.'- As the refractory sleeve is above the glass level, the glass will not flow sidewisc into the holes through which it projects. As rotation is imparted preferably continuously to the roller supports beneath the gathering tank, this tank is gradually tipped in different directions, the high portion following around the circumference. As this successive tipping action takes place the glass will flow to the depressed part of the hearth or receptacle, and thus a circular flow of the glass will be set up within the hearth, carrying fresh portions of the glass to that portion. of the hearth rejecting beyond the wall of the furnace. -ny desirable type of gathering machine may be employed to gather successive portions of glass from this part of the hearth. In Fig. 2, I have indicated a suction gathering apparatus having three arms 40, these arms having opening and closing gatherin molds 41, which successively connect wit a suction pipe at the osition over the portion of glass from the hearth, then trayel around and hey automatically opened and drop this glass into a suitable mold,

\ preferably formed as part of a blowing or pressing machine. J The end wall of the supplemental furnace may be cut away, as shown at ac, to permit the rotary movement The advantages of my invention result from the peculiar movement of the gathering hearth, which avoids any rotary move-.

ment thereof, but imparts a circulation to the glass of the contained bath; also from the improved type of control gate or valve, by which the flow of glass to the gathering hearth is regulated.

The most important feature of my invention is the circulating of the glass within a receptacle, without need of rotating the receptacle, in order to bring fresh gathering surfaces to the desired point or points for gathering. The circulation of the glass may be obtained in any desirable manner within the broad scope of my invention.

Thereceptacle ma be of any desirable shape, since I consi er myself the first to circulate glass within a rece tacle, as distin ished from rotating t e receptacle itse f, in order to bring fresh surfaces into position for gathering; 2

Many variat'ons may be made in the form and arrangement of the tank, the connecting channel, the gathering hearth and furnace, and the means for tipping the A toproduce a circulating movement of the glass therein, and gathering apparatus arranged to gather successive portions-of glass from a point within the limits of the hearth and to which fresh glass is constantly delivered b the circulating movement of the glass; su stantially as described.

\ 2. A non-rotary gathering hearth, an inclined support on which the hearth is mounted, means for feeding molt glass to the hearth, connections for oscil ating the support successively in different directions to tilt the tank and set up a circulating movement of glass therein, and gathering apparatus arranged to gather successive portions of glass from a point within the limits of the hearth, and to-which fresh glass is constantly delivered by the circulating movement of the glass; substantially as described.

3. A non-rotary gathering hearth, a furnace or heat-retaining cover extending over a portion only of the hearth, means for feeding molten glass to the hearth, connections arranged to oscillate the hearth to set up a circulation of the glass therein, and a gathering apparatus arranged to gather successive portions of fresh glass from the portion of the hearth beyond the cover; substanpally as described.

4:- lln glass gathering apparatus, a tank or source of glass 'supply flan opemtopped channel leading therefrom, and a'swingl refractory gate inter-mediate of the length of the channeland arranged to swing longitudinally of the channel and fit therein;

substantially as described. 7

5. In glass supplying apparatus, a tank or source of glass sdpply, an open-topped channel below the lbvel of the glass, a swinging refractory gate arranged to swing longitudinally of the channel and to fit therein, and a refractory shaft extending across-the channel and carrying the gate; substantially as described. w

my hand.

6. In glass supplying apparatus, an opens topped channel connecting with a. source of glass supply, a swinging gate intermediate the .length of the channel, said gate being arranged to swing longitudinally of and fit in the channel, and an oscillating watercooled shaft carrying the gate; substantially as described. A

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set HENRY L. DIXON. Witnesses:

' H. M. Conwm. 

